Chelsea K.

Use of confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and molecular biology techniques to investigate unconventional modes of cellular communication within the tumor microenvironment. My specific focus was to investigate how the sharing of cellular material between an innate immune cell type, the macrophage, and cancer cells can lead to long-term cellular reprogramming and increased tumorigenesis.

Generated and employed optogenetic-based tools for sub-cellular manipulation of the actin cytoskeleton within individual multipotent cells in the zebrafish. My specific focus was to gain a better insight into the relationship between cell motility, morphology, and fate using the lateral line organ system as a model.

Prepared thesis research for publication during this bridging post-doc in my thesis lab.

Utilized gene editing and zebrafish transgenesis tools coupled with live cell confocal microscopy to investigate neuronal specification within a region of the brain called the cerebellum. My specific focus was to determine how a transcription factor, Atoh1, and its paralogs contributed to the development of discreet neuronal populations within the vertebrate cerebellum.